Tenotsch-Tit-Lan (Mexico Ciudad)

Today downtown was on my list of things.

First of all let me break in the good news I’m (mostly) not freezing any more. This is due to mexican sun which has finally recovered… Ever since I visited Fridas house.

Which is a clear indicator that you if Frida is a main reason that makes you want to go to Mexico, you should not mess around with the local gods by not going there first. Thanks to sunblocker #50……… My head has turned a nice shade of german orange, I will soon melt in with the local shops selling halloween stuff. If the sun temporarily goes away, one pullover is enough, not my complete set of two….

I started sort of late today thanks to my demonstrating experience yesterday night, but I would not want to miss that. It is both memorable as well as a little haunting – I would not bet on things staying as peaceful during the next „march“. But I was explained that since the not-so-peaceful demonstrations of 2003 (or 2006, too lazy to google, you forgive me, somebody who knows please post a comment) you get 10 years in jail if you vandalize or attack a policeman. Well. Things will focus around DF, and I’m having my last day here tomorrow, planning to leave for Puebla on Saturday.  Getting a little nervous about that. Flat-mate C. just told me I’m out of my comfort zone and should just embrace it…. Yeehaaa, I’ll breathe in and out again and dare to stay trustful.

I did get down to barbarian business today talking to people about visions and dreams and working life and how I lose the touch of it if I tell what I’m doing for a living. As if it has nothing to do with me. And honestly – the office has melted away from my mind at scary speed and I leave it there, thankful for questions from people who get to know me here, asking me about my – visions and dreams.

Funny enough, I have been only surrounded by people who are close to their dream and heart in what they work in. Artist. Writer. Foundation-supporter & founder (in one person!… check out www.ataxia.com – which I still need to check out myself). My personal guide for today’s afternoon, Laura, who is world-nomad and (currently…) does a Roma Walking Tour in DF, great to see architecture and shops and mural paintings

and bars and cafes and galleries in a very cute neighborhood plus great company to talk to and listen in to Spanish when she talks to the locals – details at http://mexicocity.wix.com/walk-it. Even on that walking tour, that shop with Mexican designers with P. showing us her handbag that is going to make it to Italy and who knows, Munich next… The papier mâché (yes, I looked that up on Leo and no, I don’t think any American would ever write „mâché“ unless he has direct french family) shop with the owner and his hat.

And the skeleton (made of papier mache of course) sitting on a chair right in front of his place with the same hat on its skull… The owner pointed out that his is not a shop, but a workshop.
Best use of the word workshop I’ve heard in a looong time 🙂

Oh well.

I’ll spare you from all those sightseeing details you’ll know if you’ve been here.

The cathedral – mostly worth a visit in my humble opinion due to two things: the bells ringing (by natural German talent I managed 12 o’clock by coincidence….).

Incredible sound plus you can watch the rope of the bell and catch a small glimpse of the guy actually pulling it. And thanks to Aztecs swamps who are taking Montezumas revenge to a next level – the askew floors that made me feel dizzy in a funny sort of way when looking down the cathedral.

Il templo mayor – amazing. You do or do not know that Mexico Ciudad has its center right in the old centre of what used to be the Aztec town of Tenochtitlan (one day in the museo de la antropologia does pay off……..). The main square, Zocalo, even is the old square from the Aztec town except that the public pyramidic buildings around it have vanished. Except for one which reappeared…… Which is el templo mayor. It was rediscovered during construction work I forgot when, and people were taken by surprise, cause they thought Senor Cortez had built the cathedral right on the main temple. Well. Another troop of happy mexican archeologists spent a little time… and brought out layers of that main temple. Cause the Aztecs had a funny connection to Russian doll-artists and, after a few years, probably to prevent boredom, built another temple-layer on the old one. And then another. Making it look thicker. Where have you heard that logic before. Anyhow the temple is confusing cause you get to see different layers, like half a Russian doll spread out in a weird way…

So real good hint – if you move behind the scenery to bookshop Porua and take the elevator upstairs, you get a nice cappuccino-moccha plus a perfect view of the temple (with all its layers), the centro historico and inflying airplanes to the airport…

Be warned, though. If you were stupid enough to eat those tacos the night before despite their weird & porky taste – you might be in for a small Montezuma experience. No that had nothing to do with the Bagel al mar……………. ((yummy))

Which actually made me discover a nice exhibition in the Bank of Mexico City on the way back home. I did not pay my usual attention to the exhibited art (real nice, though, as far  as I remember) but asked in perfect spanish (I can write ANYTHING here, HA!) for el bano.

And then I decided to go for some fresh air… El Torre Latinoamericana is a little expensive for its entrance (I compare that to the museo de la antropologia…….) BUT definitely worth it if you catch a clear day. Which I did.

Apart from clouds around the Popo. But I saw the other vulcano  and of all city views over the last years, this is one of the best. Not to mention the lady in the elevator on a stool with blue socks who carefully was directing our arrival to the 34th floor.

Well. Tomorrow I have plans. Stroke my stomach in hope that helps. Cause it breaks my heart passing by all that beauty of food without tasting it. At least my muscle ache is gone today, maybe my body parts are just taking terms, thoroughly enjoying nobody is worrying about office performance 😛
Then – plan to not forget my mobile in the morning. Which is a nogo if you still want to buy a phone card….. as I am nervous about my trip reaching the unplanned part, I need that to soothe me…
But hey, I dare ask the time in Spanish now (mark: to people who own a watch, that’s important). Or you can look at the cathedral…
Then read the guide for connection to Puebla and the hotels. ((((and maybe check online if I want to make a compromise and do my traditional New Zealand like 1-day-prior-booking))))
And pack up.

Souvenirs… My toys. Which will change ownership once I encounter my nephew and niece again. The best toys I have seen in a long time around here. Hard to stick to small things I can carry easily (or so she hopes).

My new two hairslides – skeleton hands. One has already separated from the hairslide it was glued to….. The other one looks splendid, I tried. No photo of that, I’ll wait for my Munich friends to meet at night, then put it on and apply a flashlight from underneath my face 🙂
And finally – a skull. A chatting skull. If I feel lonely on the trip…

I am getting obsessed with skulls. But my pragmatic side has a clear opinion about taking a life-size pappmache-skeleton all the way to Yucatan and then on the airplane back home.

I can picture the lady at Atlanta Airport going: You have been to Syria???? And you carry a skeleton….???? And what should I quote then, Achmed the dead terrorist?

Worn-out-tourist now off to bed.